Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved ten general and other measures and also the promulgation of laws, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry made a statement concerning the Contract Policy of the Government and Related Bodies regarding Small and Medium Enterprises in FY2012 and the policy regarding the provision of specific subsidies, etc. to small and medium enterprises and related entities, as well as a statement concerning the White Paper on International Economy and Trade 2012. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning a report pursuant to the provisions of Article 106-25, Paragraph 1, etc. of the National Public Service Act, and a statement concerning the findings of the administrative evaluation and monitoring of suicide prevention measures. The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning the FY2011 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Masaharu Nakagawa made a statement concerning the holding of the Gender Equality Week, which will start from tomorrow.

Q&As

• Recent Osprey aircraft accidents (in relation to consideration on deploying Osprey aircrafts to Okinawa)

REPORTER: I have a question related to Osprey. The United States (U.S.) Department of Defense announced that it will officially brief the Government of Japan on June 22, local time on the recent Osprey accidents. Who on the Japanese side will be briefed? Also, if no problems are found with the aircraft, will this mean that you will then be going ahead with the deployment plan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: With regard to the Osprey accidents, the Government, from the immediate aftermath of the accidents, has repeatedly requested the U.S. side to swiftly provide information regarding the investigation findings. The U.S. side has also said that it will swiftly notify the investigation findings. On this occasion, we will be dispatching members of the Ministry of Defense. I understand that the dispatch is being carried out as part of the U.S. provision of information. In any case, Japan's response going forward must be based on the contents of the information provided by the U.S. side, and the response still remains entirely undecided. The response will be considered in coordination with the relevant ministers. That is what I foresee.

(Abridged)